QC Yoga Therapy

If you’ve ever experienced insomnia, you’ll know it’s about much more than simply not sleeping.

Poor sleep can affect every aspect of life, leaving you feeling exhausted, struggling to concentrate, over relying on caffeine and other stimulants to get through the day and often living with increased pain, low mood and irritability. The harder we try to sleep, the more frustrating it can become, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break.

This is where Yoga Therapy can help.

Its whole-person approach looks beyond the symptoms of poor sleep to understand what may be contributing to it. Stress, chronic pain, nervous system dysregulation, lifestyle habits, anxiety, unresolved life events and even our beliefs about sleep can all play a role.

Rather than asking, “How do we get you to sleep?”, Yoga Therapy asks, “What’s keeping you awake?”

Every programme is individually tailored to the person. During an initial assessment, we explore how your insomnia presents. Is it difficult to fall asleep? Do you wake during the night? Are you waking too early? We’ll also look at factors such as stress, caffeine intake, screen use, pain, exercise habits and bedtime routines to build a picture of what may be maintaining the cycle.

Yoga Therapy may include gentle movement, breathwork, relaxation, meditation and lifestyle support.

Movement practices are chosen according to your needs and even the time of day. Gentle energising practices can help lift energy naturally during the day, reducing reliance on caffeine, while slower, restorative practices in the evening help prepare the body and mind for sleep. If pain is contributing to poor sleep, practices can improve mobility, release tension and gently strengthen the body, recognising the close relationship between pain, mood and sleep quality.

Breathwork is another powerful tool. Practices such as slow diaphragmatic breathing and Ujjayi can help regulate the nervous system reducing the state of hyperarousal that often accompanies chronic insomnia. Whilst practices such as Bhramari and Breath of Joy could be used throughout the day to energise and improve mood.

Deep relaxation practices, particularly Yoga Nidra, can help the body experience profound rest, while mindfulness can support us in noticing and stepping back from the repetitive thoughts and worries that often keep us awake.

Alongside the practices themselves, Yoga Therapy encourages greater awareness of the habits that influence our sleep. Keeping a simple sleep and energy diary can help identify patterns, allowing practices to be adapted as your sleep begins to improve. Together we create realistic goals that fit around your life, making change feel manageable rather than overwhelming.

Yoga Therapy can also draw on yogic philosophy to support lasting change. For example, learning to let go of the belief that we must sleep perfectly can reduce the pressure we place on ourselves and create the conditions for sleep to arise more naturally.

There is rarely a quick fix for chronic insomnia, but by addressing the body, breath, mind and lifestyle together, Yoga Therapy offers a compassionate and holistic approach. Rather than simply treating sleeplessness, it helps you develop the tools to support better sleep, energise when necessary, and improve overall well being.

Traditionally, the purpose of Yoga was to relieve suffering by stilling the fluctuations of the mind and guiding the practitioner towards a state of inner peace and liberation. Ancient yogic texts describe enlightenment as the ultimate aim, with illness often viewed as an obstacle along that path. 

As yoga evolved, however, another perspective began to emerge. Yoga practices started to be recognised as supportive to physical and psychological health alongside their spiritual purpose. This understanding laid the foundations for what we now know as Yoga Therapy.

Modern Yoga Therapy developed when pioneers began investigating yoga using scientific methods and medical equipment. As research into yoga’s effects grew, so too did our understanding of its potential to support people living with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions.

While Yoga and Yoga Therapy share the same roots, they differ greatly in how they are applied.

Contemporary Yoga classes often adopt a more physical focus and are generally designed for a group of people, with everyone practising the same sequence regardless of their individual needs. Although teachers will often ask about injuries or health conditions before class, they rarely have a detailed understanding of each person’s medical history, current symptoms or personal goals.

Yoga Therapy, on the other hand, begins with the individual.

Every person arrives with a unique combination of physical health, emotional wellbeing, medical history, lifestyle, lived experience and aspirations. Even two people with the same diagnosis may require completely different approaches depending on their symptoms, stage of recovery and personal circumstances.

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all class, a Yoga Therapist carries out a detailed assessment before working collaboratively with a client to create a practice tailored specifically to their needs. This may include movement, breathwork, relaxation, meditation, lifestyle recommendations and other yogic practices, all chosen to support the person’s health goals.

Yoga Therapy is a collaborative process. Together, the therapist and client develop a realistic home practice that can be integrated into daily life, empowering the individual to become an active participant in their own healing.

Rather than viewing illness as an obstacle, Yoga Therapy recognises that the process of healing itself can become a path towards reconnecting with our inherent wholeness.

Receiving a diagnosis of heart disease or recovering from a cardiac event can be life changing. Alongside the physical recovery, many people experience anxiety, reduced confidence in exercise, fear of another cardiac event and uncertainty about how to safely regain their health.

Yoga Therapy offers a gentle, individualised approach that supports both physical and emotional recovery.

 Every programme is tailored to your medical history, current symptoms, physical capacity and personal goals, working alongside advice from your healthcare team.

For many people living with cardiovascular disease, years of chronic stress may have contributed to elevated blood pressure, poor sleep, unhealthy lifestyle habits and prolonged activation of the body’s stress response. Following a heart attack, it’s also common to experience hypervigilance towards bodily sensations and a fear of physical exertion.

One of the first priorities in Yoga Therapy is helping regulate the nervous system.

Slow diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation practices can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as our “rest and digest” response. This helps reduce the effects of chronic stress by slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and reducing the overall workload on the cardiovascular system. Over time, these practices may also improve heart rate variability (HRV), an important indicator of the body’s ability to adapt to stress.

Movement is introduced gradually and always within the individual’s capabilities.

Initially this may involve gentle joint mobility exercises, mindful movement and supported postures designed to build confidence whilst avoiding unnecessary strain on the heart. As recovery progresses, movement can gradually become more dynamic, helping improve strength, mobility and cardiovascular fitness in a safe and sustainable way.

Yoga Therapy also recognises that recovery extends beyond the physical body.

A cardiac event often prompts people to reflect on what really matters. Many begin questioning long-held habits, work-life balance and the relationship between achievement and wellbeing. Yoga Therapy creates space for these conversations, supporting clients to reconnect with their values and develop healthier, more sustainable ways of living.

Behaviour change is another important part of the process. Yoga Therapy helps people build realistic habits that fit into everyday life. Small, achievable goals, regular reflection and practices that support stress management can all help create lasting lifestyle change.

Above all, Yoga Therapy is about supporting the whole person, not just the heart.

 

Most of us think of stress as something that affects the mind, but stress changes far more than our thoughts.

When we experience stress, our brain sends signals throughout the body preparing us to deal with danger. Our heart beats faster, breathing becomes quicker, muscles tense and stress hormones are released to help us survive.

This response is incredibly intelligent. It’s designed to keep us alive.

The problem is that our nervous system can’t always tell the difference between a life-threatening emergency and the pressures of modern life. Deadlines, financial worries, caring responsibilities, relationship difficulties and constant notifications can all trigger the same physiological stress response.

When this happens occasionally, the body recovers.

When it happens day after day, the nervous system can become stuck in survival mode.

Over time, this may affect sleep, digestion, immune function, blood pressure, inflammation, chronic pain, anxiety, fatigue and many other aspects of health.

This is why stress so often presents physically.

Yoga Therapy recognises that the mind and body are inseparable.

Rather than focusing only on symptoms, it works with the whole person, using movement, breathwork, relaxation and mindfulness to help regulate the nervous system.

One of the most important ways this happens is by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called our “rest and digest” response. This allows the body to move away from survival mode and towards a state where healing, digestion, repair and recovery can occur.

The breath plays a particularly important role. Slow, mindful breathing can influence the vagus nerve, helping improve vagal tone and heart rate variability, both indicators of a nervous system that is better able to adapt to life’s challenges.

Yoga Therapy doesn’t assume that the body, breath and mind exist separately. Instead, it recognises that they constantly influence one another. A stressed mind affects our breathing. Changes in our breathing influence our nervous system. The nervous system affects the body, our emotions and ultimately how we experience life.

By gently working across all of these areas, Yoga Therapy helps restore balance rather than simply managing symptoms.

Healing doesn’t always mean removing a diagnosis. Often it means helping the whole person feel safer, calmer, more resilient and better able to respond to whatever life brings.

Many people with ADHD have tried yoga at some point and come away feeling that it was “too slow”, “boring” or simply not for them.

The good news is that Yoga Therapy is very different from attending a general yoga class.

Rather than expecting everyone to practise in the same way, Yoga Therapy is individually tailored to the person sitting in front of you. It takes into account how your ADHD presents, your energy levels, your interests, your current challenges and your personal goals. No two sessions need look the same.

ADHD affects everyone differently. Some people experience predominantly inattentive symptoms, others are more hyperactive or impulsive, while many experience a combination of both. This is why understanding the individual is far more important than simply working with the diagnosis.

If stillness feels frustrating, we don’t begin with stillness.

Instead, Yoga Therapy may begin with movement. Dynamic, flowing sequences can provide enough interest to keep the mind engaged while also helping regulate excess energy. Coordinating movement with the breath encourages focus, develops body awareness and supports nervous system regulation without asking someone to sit quietly before they’re ready.

Breathwork can also be adapted to make it more engaging. Combining breathing with movement, sound or simple coordination tasks can help maintain attention while promoting a calmer, more balanced nervous system. Practices such as Bhramari (humming bee breath) provide immediate sensory feedback through vibration and sound, making mindfulness feel more accessible.

Mindfulness is often misunderstood as sitting perfectly still with a completely quiet mind. For many people with ADHD, this can feel impossible.

In Yoga Therapy, mindfulness can begin through movement, walking, breath or sensory awareness. As confidence develops, practices may gradually evolve into brief guided body scans, breath awareness or meditation. There is no expectation to “empty the mind”. Instead, the aim is to notice where attention has wandered and gently guide it back, building this skill over time without judgement.

Many people living with ADHD also experience years of self-criticism, shame or frustration after repeatedly feeling that they are “too much” or “not enough”. Yoga Therapy offers an opportunity to develop a kinder relationship with yourself. Practices such as loving-kindness meditation can help cultivate self-compassion, soften harsh inner dialogue and support emotional regulation.

As therapy progresses, many people notice improvements beyond the yoga mat. They may feel less overwhelmed, sleep more soundly, respond rather than react in challenging situations and begin using breathing or grounding techniques independently in everyday life. They often develop greater confidence in their ability to regulate their own nervous system.

Yoga Therapy is not about changing who you are.

It’s about understanding how your unique nervous system works and developing practical tools that help you work with it rather than against it. Through an individualised combination of movement, breathwork, mindfulness and relaxation, Yoga Therapy offers a compassionate, person-centred approach that supports greater focus, emotional wellbeing and resilience.